Candidates propose bike lanes, expanded shuttle service and parking benefits to ease Point neighborhood traffic

Candidates at a Salem Ward 1 and Ward 5 forum offered a range of strategies to reduce vehicle traffic and improve safety in densely populated neighborhoods.

Why it matters: Traffic and safety were among the top concerns raised by forum attendees and candidates; proposed changes could alter parking rules, transit service and street design across the wards.

Short‑term measures candidates supported included protected or raised bike lanes, traffic calming such as speed bumps, and crosswalk improvements. Ward 1 candidates noted planned speed bumps on Harvest Street, Dow Street, Palmer Street and Levitt Street and a budgeted crosswalk on Congress Street to link the South Harbor Walkway to Pickering Wharf.

On transit and demand-management strategies, candidates proposed expanding Salem’s on‑demand shuttle (Salem Skipper), adding city-run shuttle routes north–south, and encouraging regional coordination with Lynn and Beverly for shared bus service. Ward 5 candidate Zachary Calderon proposed parking‑benefit districts — metered parking zones whose revenues are reinvested locally for sidewalks, trees, sheltered bus stops and bike lanes — and market-rate pricing designed to maintain about 80% occupancy.

Longer‑term proposals included pursuing a South Salem rail station and improved MBTA connections, dredging the harbor for better transit and flood benefits, and constructing a pedestrian overpass to connect school neighborhoods. Candidates repeatedly emphasized that alternatives to driving must be convenient and safe to change commuter behavior.

No council actions occurred during the forum. Candidates encouraged continuing investments in protected bike infrastructure and last‑mile options while preserving options for residents who rely on cars.